ATI Solutions Network Security Advisory

Password Protection

It's important to change your Internet account passwords periodically; at least every 90 days is the rule of thumb.

You can easily change your password using the Password Change Tool

Note: You must be connected to the network to use this tool.

Once your new password takes effect, your old one will be inactive.

Suggestions for Selecting a New Password
Do not use your name as a password. In fact, we recommend that you avoid using actual words at all. It is best to pick a password that is hard to guess and easy to remember.

The best passwords consist of the following:

• Between 6 and 16 characters
• At least one upper-case character, and one lower-case character
• At least one non-alpha character, such as a number and/or character such as a dash or underscore

Ensuring the Security of Your Internet Account

• Never give or e-mail your password to anyone.
  (Note: Technical or customer support may ask for your password in order to better assist you, but the technician will verify your keyword before asking for your password. You will be asked to change your password after the call is completed.)
• Do not use a password that can easily be associated with you, such as your birthday, social security number, your children's names or nicknames, or your favorite hobbies.
• Never use your Internet Services password as a password for Web sites or online stores. You should use a unique password for each site, and store them safely in a password manager.
• Remember to change the password that is pre-configured in any other software you load onto your hard drive.

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Dynamic IP and Static IP addressing

If you're an  Dynamic IP DSL  customer, every time you log on to the Internet, your computer is assigned a new, unique IP address, making it more difficult for hackers to find you. If you're Static IP customer, you will always use the exact same IP address each time you access the Internet.

The Internet has an address for every computer connected to it at any given moment. That address is an IP (Internet protocol) address. IP addresses are usually represented in decimal form, such as: 128.127.50.224. You need an IP address in order to route data, such as email messages, to your PC through the Internet.

There are two types of IP addresses - static and dynamic. If your DSL has static IP addressing, you will have the same, exact IP address every single time you connect to the Internet. Static IP addressing is necessary if, for example, as part of your small business you are running your own email server or hosting your Web site. This is the type of addressing that Static IP DSL  customers receive.

If you are a Dynamic IP DSL  customer, you have a dynamic IP address, which means every time you connect to the Internet you are assigned a new IP address that is selected randomly from a list of available addresses.

The benefits to having a dynamic IP address include allowing you to disconnect from the Internet without shutting off your computer. So if you want to use your PC for something other than surfing the Internet, you can simply disconnect from the Internet. This frees you to work on other tasks without the concern of someone obtaining your IP address to use for malicious purposes. When you want to resume your Internet connection, you simply sign-on again, giving you full, high-speed connectivity within seconds.

Some Internet applications, however, require a different type of Internet connection for those applications that require 24x7 availability (like a web server or email server). So a benefit of having a static IP address is that it enables this type of 24x7 connection for those applications that require it. With a static IP, the way you disconnect your  DSL connection is either by turning off your computer, or unplugging your modem or router.

Of course, with this type of always-on connection, many customers will require a higher level of protection for their  DSL connection. This can usually be addressed by simply installing a router instead of a modem. This specific topic is addressed later in this material.

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Router is not a firewall

While it is not a formal "firewall", a router with the NAT feature will improve the security for SBC Yahoo! DSL users who use them. And for those customers who use such a router, they probably will not have a strong need for a software-based personal firewall.

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Firewalls

You've probably heard news reports about hackers and other online criminals accessing the networks of large businesses and Web sites via the Internet for malicious purposes and are wondering whether your connection to the Internet is secure.

For the most part, you are safe. SBC Internet Services constantly monitors the security of our network. Among other things, we secure our network through firewall and intrusion testing software. And while these are good security measures, you will need to decide for yourself if you need additional security to protect your PC and the information you may have stored there.

For example, a small business, or a customer who sends a lot of proprietary information over the Internet, may want to install a firewall, whereas customers who use the Internet for research or entertainment may find changing their passwords regularly to be all the security they need.

Installing a firewall on the hard drive of your PC could deter hackers or other criminals from:

• Penetrating your system and viewing the contents of your computer's hard drive;
• Stealing your private information, such as credit card or bank account numbers you may have stored on your hard drive;
• Controlling your computer remotely, whereby hackers can change your passwords, corrupt your files, or erase your computer's hard drive.
• Attacking other computer systems from your PC, such as Distributed Denial-of-Service attacks where hackers render a Web site inoperable.

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Anti-virus software

Computer viruses, commonly transmitted via email, can prevent your PC from working properly. This simplest way to protect yourself from e-mail viruses is to not open emails with attachments from people you don't know or that look suspicious.

Should you receive an email that contains a virus:

1. Delete the e-mail without opening it.
2. If you have already opened the e-mail, contact your equipment manufacturer or software provider to ensure the virus has been eliminated from your computer.
3. Load a virus protection program onto your computer if you have not already done so.

Privacy software

The Internet is quickly becoming an important tool in the education of children and teenagers, replacing dry textbooks with sights, sounds and direct interaction with people across the globe, and putting it all at student's fingertips. But youths can also find trouble online. Much like the "real world", the online world contains some Web sites that are not suitable for young people and places where they could meet adults who may not have the best intentions in mind.

Parents can take control of their families' Internet use and make sure that potential problems are avoided.

Glossary of terms

Dynamic IP addressing
If you are an SBC Yahoo! DSL Basic Package, Standard Plus Package, or Deluxe Package customer, you have a dynamic IP address, which means that every time you connect to the Internet, you are assigned a new IP address selected randomly from a list of available addresses.

Firewall
Firewall software provides a virtual wall between your computer and the Internet protecting your connection to the Internet. Hackers attempt to penetrate computer networks through Internet connections.

Hackers
Hackers use scanning software to seek-out IP addresses. Once a hacker isolates an IP address, they can browse, steal or manipulate the contents of your computer.

IP (Internet protocol) address
The Internet has an address for every computer connected to it at any given moment. That address is an IP (Internet protocol) address. IP addresses are usually represented in decimal form, such as: 128.127.50.224. You need an IP address in order to route data, such as email messages, to your PC through the Internet.

Static IP addressing
If your SBC Yahoo! DSL has static IP addressing, you will have the same IP address every single time you connect to the Internet.

Viruses
Computer viruses, commonly transmitted via email, can prevent your PC from working properly. Viruses are computer codes programmed to delete hard drives, steal private information or implant itself on a PC causing programs not to work properly.

Your Questions Answered

Should I be concerned about the security of my Internet Connection?
Generally, the Internet is secure. However, conditions do exist for security issues to arise. There are a lot of people on the Internet - and like the general public, some people are nicer than others. Therefore, it is up to you to determine what level of security you think you need to protect your data and PC. This includes using easy-to-install security options such as anti-virus and firewall software.

How can I minimize my risks?
If you want an additional layer of protection, you can install anti-virus and firewall software on your computer's hard drive.

Protect your network from disaster before it's too late. Contact a ATI Solutions Network Security Specialist at 888.925.3235